Gluten Free Chicken and Dumplings (Like Cracker Barrel) (2024)

Published: by Kim · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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For the ultimate in comfort food, look no further than this easy southern recipe for Gluten Free Chicken and Dumplings (Like Cracker Barrel)!

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Some of the items linked in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission.

I have to be honest. I've never actually had Cracker Barrel's chicken and dumplings, but I have had southern style chicken and dumplings, which is exactly what they are. The dumplings are like little squares of noodles that are tender and pillowy and simply melt in your mouth. They're floating in a bath of creamy chicken and broth, and the whole thing is like a warm hug on a cold winter's day.

Ingredients Needed

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  • Kim's gluten free all purpose flour blend--a store bought blend may be substituted, but hasn't been tested.
  • Rotisserie chicken--this is the easy way out (and the quickest)! However, if you'd like to make this totally from scratch, you can buy a whole chicken and make your own chicken stock. More on that below.
  • Milk--I haven't tested this with a dairy-free milk, but there is no reason why it shouldn't work just fine.
  • Baking powder--the little bit of baking powder in the dumplings helps them puff up slightly, giving them the perfect pillowy texture.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions for How to Make Chicken and Dumplings

I've streamlined this recipe to be made with a rotisserie chicken. However, I do feel by putting the chicken into the instant pot with chicken stock boosts the flavor of the stock, making it taste like it was slow cooked for hours.

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Add rotisserie chicken and two cartons of chicken stock to the instant pot.

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Set the timer on the instant pot for 30 minutes of high pressure cooking

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Add baking powder and salt to gluten free all purpose flour in large bowl; whisk to combine.

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Add softened butter to flour mixture in bowl.

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Rub butter in with hands until well incorporated.

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Pour milk into bowl and mix with hands or spoon until a dough forms.

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Roll dough out on floured surface until it's very thin, about ⅛th of an inch.

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Remove chicken from instant pot and set aside until cool enough to shred.

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Set instant pot to saute and once boiling, drop dumplings into hot liquid; simmer for several minutes.

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Add shredded chicken back to instant pot.

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Place cornstarch and cold water or milk in mason jar. Shake until well combined and then add to boiling chicken and dumplings to thicken.

Substitutions

  • Dairy free - use dairy free butter and milk in place of regular butter and milk in the dumplings.
  • Homemade chicken stock - instead of using a rotisserie chicken, place a whole uncooked chicken in a large stockpot and cover completely with water. Add cut up carrots, celery, and onions, and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and simmer for 4 hours, or until the chicken is fully cooked and the broth has darkened. Shred chicken and strain stock through fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth. Skim fat off the top before using.

Don't Have an Instant Pot?

While chicken and dumplings made in an instant pot (pressure cooker) considerably cuts down on the time, if you don't have one, you can always make it on the stove top using a large stockpot.

Simply heat the chicken broth to boiling on the stove top while you make the dumplings and shred the rotisserie chicken. Drop the dumplings in, add the shredded chicken, and finish with the cornstarch slurry. Still delicious without needing to buy a special piece of equipment!

Top tip

For the absolute creamiest chicken with extra pillowy dumplings, we always like it best the next day. The dumplings benefit from soaking up some of that broth and it makes them so incredibly tender. Make it a day in advance, cover the pot and place it in the fridge, and bring it back to a boil the next day before serving.

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Gluten Free Chicken and Dumplings Like Cracker Barrel FAQs

Does chicken and dumplings freeze well?

Yes! This is a perfect meal for storing in the freezer. I like to use ziptop bags for this purpose. When ready to serve, simply remove the frozen contents of the bag and place it in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add a little bit of broth or water to the pot (½ cup or 120 ml is just enough), allow to reheat slowly, stirring occasionally, and if necessary, add more water (or even milk) to thin before serving.

Aren't dumplings more like really soft biscuits?

There are actually two types of chicken and dumplings, one made with a very soft, almost drop-biscuit-like dough and the other made with little square flat noodles. This version is the flat noodle variety, which is typical in southern cooking.

Can I use leftover turkey in place of chicken?

Yes, leftover turkey would also work well with dumplings.

Can I add vegetables?

Yes, you can add finely chopped carrots and celery (or any other veggies you'd like) at the beginning before pressure cooking. They will be tender once you add in the dumplings.

More Soups and Stews

Looking for other recipes like this? Check these out:

  • Gluten Free She Crab Soup
  • Instant Pot Navy Bean Soup
  • Mexican Bean Soup (Naturally Gluten Free)
Gluten Free Chicken and Dumplings (Like Cracker Barrel) (19)

Gluten Free Chicken and Dumplings (Like Cracker Barrel)

Kim

For the ultimate in comfort food, look no further than this easy southern recipe for Gluten Free Chicken and Dumplings (Like Cracker Barrel)!

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 12 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 rotisserie chicken
  • 2 32 oz (907g) boxes chicken stock or broth
  • salt and pepper to taste

Dumplings

  • 2 cups (280g) Kim's gluten free all purpose flour blend (a store bought blend may be substituted, but hasn't been tested)
  • 2 tbsp (28g) butter, softened (dairy free butter may be substituted, but hasn't been tested)
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk (a dairy free milk may be substituted, but hasn't been tested)

Slurry

  • 1 cup (240ml) milk or water (a dairy free milk may be substituted, but hasn't been tested)
  • cup (30g) cornstarch

Instructions

  • Place rotisserie chicken in instant pot. Pour chicken stock in and close lid. Set to pressure cook on high for 30 minutes. Allow it to release the pressure naturally.

  • Remove the chicken and let it cool long enough to handle it and then shred it, discarding any bones or skin. Set aside.

  • Make dumplings: In a large bowl, add flour, baking powder, and salt and whisk to combine. Rub in softened butter until mixture is somewhat crumbly. Add milk, a little at a time, until you reach a soft, somewhat tacky dough. You may or may not need all of the milk. Knead dough into a smooth ball and roll out on a lightly floured surface into a large circle that's about ⅛-inch thick. Cut one-inch squares using a pastry wheel, pizza wheel, or sharp knife.

  • Switch instant pot to the saute function and allow the chicken stock to come to a boil. Carefully add dumplings to boiling stock, a few at a time. Allow dumplings to cook for 5-10 minutes in the simmering stock and then add the shredded chicken back in.

  • Make the slurry: In a mason jar or jar with a lid, combine cornstarch and cold milk or water, shaking until fully incorporated. Pour slurry into instant pot and stir to combine. It will thicken within a minute or two. If more thickness is desired, you can make up another slurry. Serve in bowls with crusty bread and a salad.

Don't Have an Instant Pot? No Worries:

  • Add rotisserie chicken and chicken stock to large stockpot and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer, cover partially, and simmer for 2 hours. Continue with recipe as directed above, instead making everything in the stockpot at a boil.

Notes

Chicken and dumplings will last for a few days in the fridge, but can also be portioned out and frozen for up to 3 months.

Keyword chicken and dumplings, cracker barrel, Gluten Free

Tried this recipe?Tag @letthemeatglutenfreecake on Instagram so we can see!

More Chicken Recipes

  • Gluten Free Lettuce Wraps (Copycat PF Chang's)
  • Gluten Free Chick Fil A Copycat Recipe
  • Easy Gluten Free Chicken Souvlaki
  • Classic Chicken Salad

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gillie

    Ahh! Slick dumplings! Aren't they the very best? My granddad was from southern Kentucky and that's what he called them. Yummmmm! Thank you for introducing these to a wider audience. They deserve love.

    Reply

5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Gluten Free Chicken and Dumplings (Like Cracker Barrel) (2024)

FAQs

What are cracker barrel dumplings made of? ›

The Cracker Barrel dumpling ingredients are very simple: just flour and buttermilk! The use of buttermilk adds a slight tang and a light, fluffy texture that you won't get with regular milk. The sauce, or broth, is a base of chicken stock, flavored with onions, carrots, and celery.

Can celiacs eat dumplings? ›

Dumplings (especially Chinese ones) are usually wrapped in a wheat dough. If you are gluten-free, be cautious; the dough used for making crystal shrimp dumplings (har gow) contains wheat starch in addition to tapioca flour. The batter used to make rice noodle rolls (cheong fun) sometimes contain wheat starch too.

What are the 3 components of dumplings? ›

What are dumplings made of? The dumpling dough is made of three main ingredients: flour, water and salt. But which flour you use depends on which dumpling you want to make.

What are dumplings in chicken and dumplings made of? ›

To make the dumplings: Sift about 2 cups of flour and 1 teaspoon baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the flour mixture; pour in 1 cup of hot chicken broth, mixing first with a fork, then with your fingers. Add the egg and mix well again. Knead the dough for a few seconds on a floured board.

Do wonton wrappers contain gluten? ›

Store-bought wonton wrappers are not gluten-free, as they contain wheat flour. However, homemade gluten-free wonton wrappers can be made using gluten-free flour like rice and tapioca flour. This recipe is also egg-free and dairy-free.

Are Trader Joe's chicken dumplings gluten-free? ›

This product has 5 ingredients with gluten and 4 ingredients that may have gluten.

Is a Potsticker gluten-free? ›

Are traditional Chinese dumplings gluten-free? Chinese dumplings do typically contain wheat, even if the wrapper is mostly rice-based. Happily, these pork potstickers capture an authentic flavor and texture by combining sweet rice flour with a homemade gluten-free flour blend.

Does Cracker Barrel make their food from scratch? ›

That's why we hand roll our biscuits and make our mashed potatoes and gravy from scratch all day long in each of our restaurants. It's why we slow roast our beef for 18 hours, dip and bread our Sunday Homestyle Chicken ® by hand, and stay true to our heritage of authentic country style cooking after all these years.

Does Cracker Barrel use real chicken? ›

Cracker Barrel sources all of its beef, pork, poultry, dairy and egg products domestically from suppliers who meet or exceed our standards for animal care, quality and food safety.

Can a celiac kiss someone who has eaten gluten? ›

Cross Contamination from Kissing

If you kiss someone that has recently eaten or drank something containing gluten, there is a risk of cross contamination and being glutened because of the particles in their mouth. As we all know, a crumb contains enough traces of gluten to cause a reaction in some coeliacs.

What are dumplings usually made of? ›

Dumplings are most commonly formed from flour or meal bound with egg and then simmered in water or gravy stock until they take on a light cakey texture. Many recipes call for herbs, onions, grated cheese, or chopped meat to be rolled into the dough before cooking.

What are suet dumplings made of? ›

Dumplings are traditionally made with a mixture of flour and suet, but can be flavoured with a huge range of herbs, spices and other additions to suit the dish. Suet is used as the fat of choice for dumplings, as it traps air as it melts and therefore creates the perfect light and fluffy texture.

Is biscuit dough the same as dumplings? ›

Biscuit dough is a flaky, tender dough made with flour, fat (usually butter), and a liquid (such as milk or buttermilk). Dumpling dough, on the other hand, is a soft and tender dough made with flour, water or milk, and a leavening agent (such as baking powder).

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